Infant feeding unit assembly

ABSTRACT

An infant feeding assembly including a nipple and a protective cap or shroud and retaining ring structure which clamps the assembly together onto the open end neck portion of a container. The protective shroud encloses the nipple during storage as well as compressing the nipple and closing the air vent holes. The assembly includes a disk for separating the product from the nipple and closure, the disk having biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the closure is attached to seal the container. Upon release of the pressure, the biasing means returns to its original configuration thereby releasing the vacuum within the bottle and facilitating the formation of an effective fluid flow path for the product in the container.

United States Patent Eberhardt et al.

[54] INFANT FEEDING UNIT ASSEMBLY [72] inventors: Thomas Eberhardt; William H. Welch,

3,235,114 Blackwood et al.

[15] 3,655,083 [451 Apnll, 1972 3,253,726 5/1966 Meierhoefer ..2 15/1 1 C Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney-Robert L. Niblack ABSTRACT An infant feeding assembly including a nipple and a protective cap or shroud and retaining ring structure which clamps the assembly together onto the open end neck portion of a container. The protective shroud encloses the nipple during storage as well as compressing the nipple and closing the air vent holes. The assembly includes a disk for separating the product from the nipple and closure, the disk having biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the closure is attached to seal the container. Upon release of the pressure, the biasing means returns to its original configuration thereby releasing the vacuum within the bottle and facilitating the formation of an effective fluid flow path for the product in the container.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 1 m2 Inventor's Thomas E. Eberharclt William. H. welch .8 A0 a. 321kflfiorneg INFANT FEEDING UNIT ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to provide a pre-sterilized infant feeding container which can be filled, sealed and sterilized by the manufacturer, a number of closure assemblies have been designed. Such presterilized infant feeding containers provide a number of advantages such as, for example, eliminating the need to fill the container and sterilize each of the components prior to use. Being pre-sterilized such infant feeding containers need not be refrigerated. With such closure assemblies as employed on infant feeding containers, it is necessary to provide for separation of the liquid storage area from the nipple area during storage so that the fluid product does not leak into the nipple and hence to the closure while at the same time providing for convenient and ready access to the fluid within the container when it is desired to feed an infant. In such closure assemblies, separation of the product area from the nipple and closure area can be provided by means of a circular disk sealingly affixed to the open end neck portion of the bottle or contained within an annular recess in the nipple. An example of such a closure is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,432 issued on May 2, 1961. The illustrated closure is threadably engageable with the neck portion of a feeding container and hence is not tamper-proof. An illustration of a tamper-proof closure of this type is contained in US. Pat. No. 3,393,817 issued on July 23, 1968. Both of these closures incorporate disks having apertures therein which, when the closure is attached to the bottle are sealed by the nipple flange. Co-pending application, Ser. No. 661,711 filed on Aug. 18, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,487,969 issued Jan. 6, 1970, illustrates a similar type of closure but wherein the disk is contained within an angular recess in the nipple rather than being sealed directly to the neck of the bottle. With such a structure, the disk need not contain apertures but rather may contain a series of radially extending grooves which serve to allow the fluid to pass around the disk when the unit is in the feeding position. With such closure assemblies, difficulties are sometimes encountered due to a failure of the unit to completely expose the apertures or grooves in the disk when pressure is released thereby preventing the formation of a completely effective fluid flow path for the liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a closure assembly for an infant feeding container having an improved disk structure which will provide positive release thereby insuring an effective fluid flow path upon opening of the container. Such a disk incorporates biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the closure is attached to seal the container. When the container is opened, the pressure on the nipple and disk is released to a great extent so that the biasing means returns substantially to its original configuration thereby urging the disk upwardly and releasing the vacuum within the bottle permitting the product to flow past the disk and into the nipple. The biasing means can be provided in various forms. With metallic disks or disks made of other resilient material, an arcuate section can be formed in the periphery thereof, which section is flexed when the closure is affixed to the bottle and acts as a spring when the pressure is released. With disks made of plastic or other inflexible materials, a bead of resilient material can be positioned around the periphery of the disk to act as the biasing means.

The structures by means of which the above-noted and other advantages of the invention can be obtained are described in the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of the infant feeding unit assembly in a closed position, sealed for storage.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the infant feeding unit assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the infant feeding unit assembly shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the fluid flow path obtained with the protective shroud removed from the assembly and the infant feeding unit ready for use.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the invention shown with the protective shroud removed and the feeding unit ready for use.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a disk of the present invention retained within an annular recess of the nipple and is shown in the closed or sealed position for storage.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the disk of FIG. 5 shown in the open position and the feeding unit ready for use.

FIG. 7 is a partial top elevational view of the disk incorporated in the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the inventions is shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 and in which the feeding assembly or closure pap 10 is affixed to a bottle or container 11. The assembly 10 includes a unitary protective shroud l3 and retaining ring structure 14, a nipple 15 disposed therein and a feeding disk 16. The bottle 11 is of essentially conventional configuration and has an open end neck portion 17 defining an annular upper edge surface 18 referred to as the bottle finish. The outer periphery of the neck portion 16 is provided with a circumferential retaining bead 19. If desired a helical screw thread having at least one complete turn around the periphery of the bottle neck 16 may be formed therein. The use of a helical screw thread or bead is determined by the type of retaining ring assembly that is used to secure or clamp the entire unit together. The unitary protective shroud 13 and clamping or retaining ring 14 assembly comprises a cylindrical cap portion 20 having a closed end 21, vertically extending side walls 22, a horizontally extending flange portion 23 formed at the lower ends of the side walls 22 and a vertically extending annular skirt 24 terminating at the point of connection to the annular bead 19. The cap portion 20 is connected to the horizontally extending flange portion 22 by a rupturable score line 25 as best seen in FIG. 2.

The nipple 15 as shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3, includes a teat portion 30 having one or more apertures 31 therein. The nipple 15 is hollow and comprises a vertically extending annular wall portion 32, an outwardly extending flared portion 33 and a horizontally extending flange 34. The underside of the flange 34 is seated and sealingly engaged with the upper surface of the bead l8 and is retained thereon by the clamping or retaining ring 14. The horizontally extending flange portion 23 of the shroud 13 engages the upper surface of the nipple flange 34 to afiix the assembly 10 in place. As can be seen in FIG. 3, when the shroud 13 has been removed, the horizontally extending flange portion 34 of the nipple is provided with a vent hole 35.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that a circular disk 16 serves to separate the bottle 11 from the interior of the nipple 15 when the assembly is in the closed position shown in FIG. I. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1,2,3 and 4, the disk 16 is sealed directly to the glass finish by means of a rubber gasket 37. A tapered sealing surface 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 4 will reduce the downward force required for effective sealing while at the same time requiring less vacuum release force. In this embodiment, the sealing disk 16 comprises a flat central portion 40 and an arcuate peripheral portion 41 shaped in an undulated form in the general configuration of an S. Openings 42 positioned outside of the sealing area as illustrated in FIG. 2 provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the bottle when the unit is opened for feeding. Additional openings 43 may be provided in the proximity of the nipple vent holes to facilitate venting of the interior of the bottle during feeding. With closures employing an apertured disk as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,393,817, difficulties sometimes arise in providing a completely efiective fluid flow path upon opening of the unit for feeding. With such disks, particularly those employing apertures which are positioned inside the seal, vacuum release problems may result upon opening of the unit since the compressed form of the nipple must cover the openings in order to effectively separate the product from the nipple area during storage. Accordingly, the disk of the present invention is provided with biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the closure is attached to the container. When the protective shroud 13 is removed by breaking the rupturable score line 25, the disk 16 springs upward releasing the bottle vacuum and the nipple 15 is lifted away from the disk 16 exposing the openings 42 thereby providing an effective fluid flow path as illustrated in FIG. 3. As can be seen, the product is free to flow past the sealing gasket 37 through the large hole 42 in the disk 16 and into the nipple 15. At the same time, air can enter through the nipple l5, vent hole 35 and through the small holes 43 in the disk 16. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 3, the circular disk 16 is formed of metal and has an arcuate configuration around the periphery thereof which in effect forms a spring. The arcuate portion 41 is flexed when the closure assembly is attached to the container 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the shroud 13 is removed, the pressure is released and the arcuate section 41 springs upwardly to release the vacuum and provide a flow path as previously described. Illustrated in FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention which has particular applicability to disks made of materials which do not have the requisite resiliency. With this embodiment, the spring action for vacuum release is supplied by a series of release bumpers 45 attached to the disk 16 and heat sealed thereon at the same time as the gasket 37 is attached. The compressability and shape of the bumper 45 can accordingly be used to obtain the desired vacuum release characteristics and would operate in accordance with the description of the previous embodiment. As an aid in positioning and retaining the disk 16 in a sealed relationship when the closure is attached to a container and to assist in lifting the nipple from the disk 16 when the protective shroud 13 is removed, to thereby facilitate an effective fluid flow path, a compression bumper 36 is formed on the underside of the nipple flange 34. At least two opposing bumpers will exert pressure against the disk 16 when the closure cap 10 is affixed to a container to thereby assist in positioning and retaining the disk 16 in a sealed relationship. When the protective shroud 13 is removed, the disk 16 will spring upwardly as previously described and at the same time, the compression bumper 36 will lift the nipple flange 34 away from the disk 16 and thereby assist in providing an effective fluid flow path as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 4 requires sealing of the disk 16 to the glass. This requires a gasket 37 or other sealing means. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5,6 and 7, the disk 50 is retained within an annular recess 55 in the nipple 56 and consequently, gaskets or other sealing means are not required. Likewise, apertures in the disk for flow therethrough of the liquid product are not required. To facilitate fluid flow, the disk 50 of this embodiment is provided with radially extending grooves 53. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the disk 50 is retained within an annular recess 55 in the nipple 56 so that when the nipple 56 is compressed (see FIG. 5), the disk 50 is held tightly within the recess 55 thereby providing a seal and effectively separating the product from the nipple area. Like the nipple of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 4, the nipple 56 includes a vent hole 57 and a horizontally extending flange 58 which is seated and sealingly engaged with the finish 59 of the container 60. Additionally, the nipple 56 includes an annular lip or valve 61 which projects angularly into the container 60 and aids in preventing liquid from leaking through the vent hole 57 while at the same time permitting air to enter the container 60 during feeding of an infant. The complete assembly includes a unitary protective shroud 62 and retaining ring 63 structure with a frangible connection 64 which clamps the assembly, including the disk 50 together during storage. On opening of the unit by removal of the shroud 62 a fluid flow path is provided for the liquid product. A flat disk would tend to adhere to the rubber nipple 56 when the pressure is released thereby preventing the formation of a fluid flow path. By using biasing means on the periphery of the disk 50 upon release of the pressure the disk 50 will part from the recess 55 in the nipple 56 and form a flow path. Accordingly, a release bumper 54 is positioned around the periphery of the disk 50 in the same manner as described for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. Preferably, to assist in providing an effective seal, the bumper 54 is formed in the shape of a pyramid and is affixed continuously around the periphery of the disk 50.

In use, when the unit is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 or 5, the protective shroud is secured to the clamping ring by frangible connections and compresses and restrains the nipple structure against the finish and the outer periphery on the bottle neck in such a manner as to fill all recesses and seal the entire unit from any leakage of fluid. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 the annular recess 55 which is provided on the inner surface of the nipple 56 to contain and seat the sealing disk 50 is compressed against the disk 50 and its grooves 53 to prevent fluid from flowing around the disk 50 and into the upper portion of the hollow nipple 56. The com pression of the shroud onto the nipple and its retention by the retaining ring closes the vent holes and compresses the annular shoulder against the bottle finish to insure complete sealing of the unit for storage.

To ready the assembly for use, the shroud is deformed enough to sever it from the connections and it is removed from the bottle to expose the nipple. When this occurs the nipple expands to the feeding position shown in FIGS. 3,4 or 6. This allows fluid to pass through the hollow portion of the nipple to the feeding aperture. As the infant draws the fluid from the bottle, air will pass through the vent holes to the recess or gap between the bottle necks outer periphery and the undersurface of the nipple flange. The air admitted through the vents will pass over the bottle finish through the grooves or apertures and into the interior of the bottle to replace the volume of fluid which has been removed during the feeding process.

We claim:

1. An infant feeding assembly adapted to be sealingly secured to the neck of a feeding container having a top finish surface, said assembly comprising: a nipple, said nipple including a teat portion having one or more apertures therein, a vertically extending annular wall portion, a horizontally extending flange adapted to be seated and sealingly engaged with the finish of the container, and a vent opening disposed in said horizontally extending flange; a disc positioned to separate the bottle from the interior of the nipple when the assembly is in the closed position, said disc including openings adapted to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the assembly is opened for feeding, said disk being provided with biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the assembly is attached to the container; said nipple including at least two compression bumpers formed on the under side of the nipple flange and arranged to position and retain the disc in a sealed relationship when the assembly is closed and to lift the nipple from the disc when the assembly is opened for feeding; and means for securing said nipple and disc to and in sealing engagement with said container neck and capable of being released to permit air to flow through said vent opening in the nipple and fluid to flow through the openings in the disc and into the nipple.

2. An infant feeding assembly adapted to be sealingly secured to the neck of a feeding container having a top finish surface, said assembly comprising: a nipple, said nipple including a teat portion having one or more apertures therein, a vertically extending annular wall portion, a horizontally extending flange adapted to be seated and sealingly engaged with the finish of the container, and a vent opening disposed in said horizontally extending flange; a disc positioned to separate the bottle from the interior of the nipple when the assembly is in the closed position, said disc including openings adapted to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the assembly is opened for feeding, said disc being provided with biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the assembly is attached to the container and comprising a flat central portion and an arcuate peripheral portion adapted to be sealed to the finish of the container and which forms a spring and is flexed when the assembly is attached to the container, said disc including a gasket arranged for engagement with the finish of said container and openings positioned outside of the gasket to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the unit is opened for feeding; and means for securing said nipple and disc to and in sealing engagement with said container neck and capable of being released to permit air to flow through said vent opening in the nipple and fluid to flow through the openings in the disc and into the nipple. 

1. An infant feeding assembly adapted to be sealingly secured to the neck of a feeding container having a top finish surface, said assembly comprising: a nipple, said nipple including a teat portion having one or more apertures therein, a vertically extending annular wall portion, a horizontally extending flange adapted to be seated and sealingly engaged with the finish of the container, and a vent opening disposed in said horizontally extending flange; a disc positioned to separate the bottle from the interior of the nipple when the assembly is in the closed position, said disc including openings adapted to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the assembly is opened for feeding, said disk being provided with biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the assembly is attached to the container; said nipple including at least two compression bumpers formed on the under side of the nipple flange and arranged to position and retain the disc in a sealed relationship when the assembly is closed and to lift the nipple from the disc when the assembly is opened for feeding; and means for securing said nipple and disc to and in sealing engagement with said container neck and capable of being released to permit air to flow through said vent opening in the nipple and fluid to flow through the openings in the disc and into the nipple.
 2. An infant feeding assembly adapted to be sealingly secured to the neck of a feeding container having a top finish surface, said assembly comprising: a nipple, said nipple including a teat portion having one or more apertures therein, a vertically extending annular wall portion, a horizontally extending flange adapted to be seated and sealingly engaged with the finish of the container, and a vent opening disposed in said horizontally extending flange; a disc positioned to separate the bottle from the interior of the nipple when the assembly is in the closed position, said disc including openings adapted to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the assembly is opened for feeding, said disc being provided with biasing means on the periphery thereof capable of being resiliently flexed when the assembly is attached to the container and comprising a flat central portion and an arcuate peripheral portion adapted to be sealed to the finish of the container and which forms a spring and is flexed when the assembly is attached to the container, said disc including a gasket arranged for engagement with the finish of said container and openings positioned outside of the gasket to provide a fluid flow path for the liquid within the container when the unit is opened for feeding; and means for securing said nipple and disc to and in sealing engagement with said container neck and capable of being released to permit air to flow through said vent opening in the nipple and fluid to flow through the openings in the disc and into the nipple. 